Presentation

The School of History and Cultures at the University of Birmingham seeks to appoint three Postdoctoral Research Fellows for three years to work on an EU-funded international collaborative project (Collaborative EuropeaN Digital/Archival Infrastructure - CENDARI).

CENDARI will provide and facilitate access to existing archives and resources in Europe for the study of medieval and modern European history through the development of an 'enquiry environment'. This environment will increase access to records of historic importance across the European Research Area, creating a powerful new platform for accessing and investigating historical data in a transnational fashion overcoming the national and institutional data silos that now exist. It will leverage the power of the European infrastructure for Digital Humanities (DARIAH) bringing these technical experts together with leading historians and existing research infrastructures (archives, libraries and individual digital projects) within a programme of technical research informed by cutting edge reflection on the impact of the digital age on scholarly practice.

Two domains have been chosen as case studies to develop this flexible research environment, in the first instance for historical research, but easily adaptable in future for other humanities domains. The first case study will be in the area of First World War studies, a timely area of research as we are fast approaching the centenary of this pan-European conflict that is already generating much interest from academics to the general public across Europe. The second case study will focus on medieval history in the creation of an Atlas of Medieval Cultures that will develop new paradigms from which to investigate and bridge linguistic, cultural and spatial boundaries.

We are therefore looking for historians of Europe to join an international and interdisciplinary team of scholars including historians, archivists and librarians, e-science and digital humanities specialists.

Conditions

The post holders will have a PhD in European History (or equivalent), be fluent in English and in another European language at least.

They will be able to demonstrate their capacity to operate successfully in an interdisciplinary, international and multilingual research environment.

The post holders will work with the Principal Investigator, Dr Pierre Purseigle, on several work packages including

"Training and Transnational Access Coordination"

"Methodology and Archive User Requirements"

"Investigation and Description of Archives"

"Research Processes and System Architecture"

"Research Spaces"

Closing date: 10th May 2012

For informal enquiries, please contact Dr Pierre Purseigle at the Department of History, School of History and Cultures, The University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT. Email: p.purseigle@bham.ac.uk

Ref: 44563

To download the details and submit an electronic application online please click on the following link: http://www.hr.bham.ac.uk/jobs

Alternatively information can be obtained from 0121 415 9000.

University of Birmingham - College of Arts and Law - School of History and Cultures

Starting salary £27,578 a year, in a range up to £35,938 a year, with potential progression to £38,140 a year